Sheep adopts orphaned baby elephant at South Africa sanctuary

HOEDSPRUIT, South Africa, March 1 (UPI) -- A baby elephant rescued from a drainage well in South Africa last month has a new "surrogate mother" -- a sheep named Lammie.

The baby elephant was originally named Bella after its rescue in February but was re-dubbed Amanzi -- the Zulu word for water -- after his gender was correctly identified.

The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Center shared video on its Facebook page of Amanzi bonding with his "surrogate mother," a sheep named Lammie.

Lammie is no stranger to the adoption life, having previously played "mother sheep" to orphaned rhinos at the sanctuary.

The facility said Amanzi has suffered some health problems since his rescue in early February, including occasional trouble eating.